Book Review: Tears of the Silenced by Misty Griffin

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I had been sexually assaulted by the bishop of my church and knew I needed outside help. Frightened and confused I made a dash for the police station. They were the worldly outsiders and I was so scared. Based on the tragic true story.

When I was six years old my family started to live and dress like the Amish. A few years later we moved to a mountain ranch where my sister and I were subjected to almost complete isolation, sexual abuse, and extreme physical violence.

In my late teens, my parents feared we would escape and took us to an Amish community where we were adopted and became baptized members. I was devastated to once again find myself in a world of fear, sexual abuse, animal cruelty and other crimes. Going to the police was forbidden.

A few years later I was sexually assaulted by the bishop of my church. I knew I had to get help and one morning in early March I made a dash for a tiny police station in rural Minnesota. As a result, I found myself plummeted into the strange modern world with only a second-grade education and no form of identification.

Author’s Note– To everyone out there, I beg you to never turn a blind eye towards child abuse or think someone else will report it. You could be that child’s last chance, be a hero and report ( National Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453)- Misty Griffin

Excerpt from Tears of the Silenced:

I walked through the front door of the tiny police station and went over to a heavy wood counter, where a middle-aged policewoman sat at a computer. She looked up as I stood there, watching her. I saw a surprised look on her face as she stared back at me. I imagined I was very different from the people who normally walked up to her desk.

I was a young Amish woman, just a little over five feet tall, wearing an almost ankle-length, plain, teal-colored dress and apron, followed by knee-length black socks and black shoes. My coat was a homemade denim coat with a high collar and hooks and eyes going down the front. On my head was a stiff white Amish kapp that covered nearly all my reddish-brown hair and was tied in a small bow under my chin.

I was shaking as I stood there, looking at the woman. I tried to get up enough courage to say something, I knew I was going to be shunned by the Amish church for what I was doing. I could not speak. The thought of being shunned was terrifying but I did not know what else to do. My whole body was trembling….

My Thoughts

Let me start by saying this book is a BESTSELLER on Amazon and is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I can see why.

Wow! Omg! Those are the words I thought to myself over and over as I read this book. What Misty went through during her childhood living like the Amish is heartbreaking. Severe physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her mother, step-father Brian, and bishop of her church, was her norm. The injuries she suffered can only be described as horrific.

I cannot imagine what Misty (and her sister, Samantha) went through on a DAILY basis. Her extraordinary will to survive, plus her strength and determination to one day lead a normal life like everyone else is inspiring and endearing. I found myself feeling an overwhelming since of protectiveness over the sisters. I wanted to personally beat the crap out of those who hurt them, and seek justice for them in the worst way. 😉

This is just an incredibly moving book. What else can I say?

Warning: You WILL go through many emotions reading this book, but it is SO WORTH IT!

While this book is very long – 37 chapters, 456 pages, it is a MUST-READ book for any fan of autobiographies and true crime.